Book Review: Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean

Seventeen-year-old Izumi Tanaka has always felt a slight disconnect from the world around her, whether it’s due to her Japanese-American ethnicity or because she's being raised by a single mother in a mostly white town. When a search for her father reveals him to be the Crown Prince of Japan, Izumi is invited to meet the royal family. She gets mired in a whirlwind of lessons, family, culture and duty, while feeling caught between worlds and simultaneously falling for the enigmatic bodyguard assigned to her.

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Rating: 1/5 

Tokyo Ever After flaunts uplifting friendships and lively subplots that reel you in. I appreciated its well-developed secondary characters like Yoshi and radiant descriptions of Japan.

That said, the dialogue was inconsistent at times and key plotlines were left loosely resolved. Albeit a relatable and modern voice, Izumi appeared impolite and ignorant. The romance seemed needless with several arcs being handled already. Perhaps a less rushed beginning would have been ideal as well.

Age recommendation: 12+

Genres: Fiction, Middle Grade, Romance

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" “I'm still a work in progress."

"Aren't we all?” "

“While I cry, Tamagotchi sleeps. He's not much of an emotional support animal. Our relationship is distinctly one-sided. I feed him treats and he burps in my face. Such is life.”